Goodhand in Banbury

We have waited so long 14 years of austerity 14 years of the erosion of what was good. Sure start centres closed. Libraries gone. Hospital waiting lists longer. Schools short of teachers, crumbling public buildings. Surgeries not allowed to employ GP's. 14 years we have waited, and in the waiting the rich have become richer more children than ever are in poverty the abomination in the growth of food banks homelessness has risen again and the language of fear is used  to divide. Populism is on the rise offering false hopes cheap answers and just more lies. We have waited so long. Our water is polluted  like never before yet investors bank accounts have grown. Earths habitat is being killed off by the insatiable desire for more. We have waited so long. Don't forget to vote. Don't forget your ID. Though ID was never needed before what a cheap and cynical way  to stop some from having a voice. The wait is over and the hope ? Well by tomorrow will the liars be gone? will the c...

Sunday 23rd St Hughs intercessions. Let us pray God our creator   listen to our concerns and in your compassion direct your love and us to transform,  make whole and redeem your creation. Lord in your mercy   hear our prayers It’s all bit of a mess. Fighting still in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza we forget Yeman and Myanmar yet we know You don’t. So we pray, that humanity will find a way of reflecting your concern to show mercy and create peace with justice and that we might learn afresh   how to live in harmony. Lord in your mercy   hear our prayers Its all a bit confusing for many promises are being made claims that they have the answers when we know actions of many leaders have created an even more   unequal society here, and around the world. So we pray, may those to be elected do so from a   place of integrity, and go on to make decisions guided by your wisdom, so that no child lives in poverty no one needs to live on the street good health care is once...

 The garden is beginning to produce and I have my helper to water. Potatoes, Garlic, lettuce, tomatoes and sweetcorn all coming along very well. We have already been eating lettuces and the basil has been turned into the coming years supply of Pesto. A vital ingredient for our grandchildren who love pesto pasta!!! So two crops off the first basil sown, and a crop off the second sowing with another sowing yet to come to harvest. But by leaving the basil having picked it its amazing how the precious leaves come back and you get more. And now at last I have harvested the garlic which I had wondered if it was going to come good.  You can never have enough garlic!!! Now drying off in the greenhouse to be later stored safely in the dark of the garage. So today I need to lift my first potatoes. Always an unknown. But I hope for a good crop which can often keep us going till Christmas. Retirement gives more time to give over to the garden which is so good for well being. In goes some ...

  The Carbon Cycle - Kate Rawles This is an excellent if somewhat disturbing book. I am still amazed that someone was able to ride a bike 4553 miles from Texas to Alaska. The various descriptions of the journey, with the scenery experienced, is a delight to imagine through Kate’s eyes. That anyone could persevere through extreme heat, steep inclines, punctures, wild camping at times, the isolation of riding on your own and then with her partner, just astounds me. If for no other reason this is a book worth reading. However Kate made the journey to draw attention to what is happening to our planet and in that regard it is an uncomfortable read. Many of the things she refers too, many of us are already aware of, but it raises afresh the question, What are we doing about it? I was struck afresh by the way we are destroying the eco-systems we are reliant upon for our own existence. So many of us are cut off or disconnected   from the way the planet sustains us, it means people are...

 The first harvest of precious Basil leaves took place last night producing the first batches of Pesto. I don't recall ever being this early in being able to produce a crop to pick. Hopefully they will regrow to gain another crop, and the second sowing has already started to be potted on so it could be a good year for Basil. But I need it for the grandchildren who love pesto/pasta!!! Last years crop is just being used up from the freezer. But then the raised beds are also doing their stuff. First early potatoes in the ground very healthy. You can never have too much garlic but still a while till harvest with a couple of rows of sweet corn  in which will be a first for me. The potatoes in the bags are doing really well, and I'm already trying to work out a  system to store them in the garage as we no longer have a cellar as in Sheffield. Salad leaves are now cropping in my 'gutter' beds so hopefully no more supermarket lettuce. Mind you the rocket is not really taking of...

What does it really mean to pray for Peace? Thursday communion we prayed for peace. Peace between Ukraine and Russia. But what was I praying for? A cessation of hostilities? A coming together? I have a niggle. I want Peace   for these places,   but……… but I don’t want Putin to win. If the fighting stops   won’t it only start again? and which country next? How can I just pray for peace? Doesn’t Justice have to occur at the same time? And what does Justice look like? A withdrawal of Russian forces back to where? two years ago ? or back to 2014 ? So easy in worship to use the words   we pray for Peace. The killing is terrible children, women and men. The destruction of homes. The desolation of the   environment. Stop dropping your bombs   and firing your missiles. Its wicked and its wrong full stop. But there won’t be peace   unless there is justice. So what does justice look like for Ukraine? Or dare I imagine for Russia. How about if you are a Palestini...